Side airbag including non-expandable region

Abstract

A side airbag assembly includes a seatback and a side airbag supported by the seatback. The side airbag has a first panel and a second panel. The first panel and the second panel have an expandable region including an inflation chamber. The first panel and the second panel are connected to each other defining a substantially non-expandable region. The first panel and the second panel are connected to each other around an opening. The opening extends through the first panel and the second panel and the opening is between and adjacent to the substantially non-expandable region and the expandable region.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An assembly comprising:
 a seatback; and 
 a side airbag supported by the seatback; 
 the side airbag having a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second panel having an expandable region including an inflation chamber, and the first panel and the second panel being connected to each other defining a substantially non-expandable region; and 
 the first panel and the second panel being connected to each other around an opening, the opening extending through the first panel and the second panel, the opening being between and adjacent to the substantially non-expandable region and the expandable region. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the non-expandable region is at a bottom, vehicle-rearward corner of the side airbag. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the side airbag has a bottom edge and a vehicle-rearward edge and the non-expandable region extends along the bottom edge and the vehicle-rearward edge. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the opening has a bottom end and a vehicle-rearward end, and the non-expandable region extends from the bottom edge of the side airbag to the bottom end of the opening and the non-expandable region extends from the vehicle-rearward edge of the side airbag to the vehicle-rearward end of the opening. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the opening has a vehicle-forward end, and the non-expandable region extends continuously along the bottom edge of the side airbag from the vehicle-rearward edge of the side airbag to the vehicle-forward end of the opening. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the opening has a top end, and the non-expandable region extends continuously along the vehicle-rearward edge of the side airbag from the bottom edge of the side airbag to the top end of the opening. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the expandable region extends from the top end and the vehicle-forward end of the opening. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the opening has a top end, and the non-expandable region extends continuously along the vehicle-rearward edge of the side airbag from the bottom edge of the side airbag to the top end of the opening. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the side airbag is designed to be positioned in an inflated position with the opening substantially aligned with an iliac wing of a side-impact dummy. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the side airbag is designed to be positioned in the inflated position with the expandable region extending from the opening along a torso and leg of the side-impact dummy. 
     
     
       11. A side airbag comprising:
 a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second panel having an expandable region including an inflation chamber; 
 the first panel and the second panel being connected to each other defining a substantially non-expandable region; and 
 the first panel and the second panel being connected to each other around an opening, the opening extending through the first panel and the second panel, the opening being between and adjacent to the substantially non-expandable region and the expandable region. 
 
     
     
       12. The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the non-expandable region is at a bottom, vehicle-rearward corner of the first panel and the second panel. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first panel and the second panel have a bottom edge and a vehicle-rearward edge and the non-expandable region extends along the bottom edge and the vehicle-rearward edge. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the opening has a bottom end and a vehicle-rearward end, and the non-expandable region extends from the bottom edge of the first panel and the second panel to the bottom end of the opening and the non-expandable region extends from the vehicle-rearward edge of the first panel and the second panel to the vehicle-rearward end of the opening. 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the opening has a vehicle-forward end, and the non-expandable region extends continuously along the bottom edge of the first panel and the second panel from the vehicle-rearward edge of the first panel and the second panel to the vehicle-forward end of the opening. 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the opening has a top end, and the non-expandable region extends continuously along the vehicle-rearward edge of the first panel and the second panel from the bottom edge of the first panel and the second panel to the top end of the opening. 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the expandable region extends from the top end and the vehicle-forward end of the opening. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the opening has a top end, and the non-expandable region extends continuously along the vehicle-rearward edge of the first panel and the second panel from the bottom edge of the first panel and the second panel to the top end of the opening. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first panel and the second panel is designed to be positioned in an inflated position with the opening substantially aligned with the iliac wing of a side-impact dummy. 
     
     
       20. The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first panel and the second panel is designed to be positioned in the inflated position with the expandable region extending from the opening along a torso and leg of a side impact dummy.